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PS: Mods sorry of this might be the wrong sub forum?Please feel free to move if so.Thanks

Justin, normally I would leave your thread in the Someone I Care About forum (because you are hiv negative but writing about something to do with your positive wife) but I've moved it to the Nutrition forum because people looking for information on supplements would look there.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

" Brad S. Lichtenstein, N.D. wrote a great article on mitochondrial toxicity that included excellent information about Coenzyme Q-10 (go to www.thebody.com/step/stepix.html)

CoQ10 is an essential factor in the electron transport chain, the pathway from which ATP and metabolic energy is derived, which occurs within the mitochondria. CoQ10 is a strong antioxidant that resides in the lipid membrane surrounding the mitochondria and protects it against free radical damage. Although the body can generate its own CoQ10, supplementation has been shown to be warranted in persons with HIV. CoQ10 is synthesized in the cells of every living organism in nature. The body produces CoQ10 in a 17-step process that requires riboflavin (B2), niacinamide (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), cobalamine (B12), folic acid, vitamin C, and other trace minerals. Due to its complex and intricate requirements, nutritional deficiencies with any one of these vitamins can disrupt mitochondrial energy production. Generally, symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency affect cardiovascular health in the form of congestive heart failure, stroke, arrhythmias, high blood pressure, mitral valve prolapse, and cardiomyopathy. Additionally, lack of energy, gingivitis, and overall weakened immunity are symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency.

Many medications directly deplete the body of CoQ10. While antiretrovirals have not been studied for their effect on CoQ10 levels, both antiretrovirals and antibiotics, such as Bactrim and Dapson, deplete the body of the B-vitamin family. Other medications, specifically cholesterol-lowering medications, anti-hypertensive medications like beta-blockers, and some tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline (at times used for treatment of neuropathy) all directly deplete the body of CoQ10, and thereby negatively impact the mitochondria. Studies of HIV-positive individuals who are either on antiretroviral medications or are drug naive reveal CoQ10 deficiencies.

Supplementation with CoQ10 has shown decreased incidence of opportunistic infections and improved immune parameters, measured by a reduction in symptoms such as night sweats, fever, diarrhea, weight loss, and lymphadenopathy.

Again, no RDA has been established for CoQ10; yet, current recommendations range from 30 to 120 mg per day, depending upon the severity of symptoms and health status. No side effects have been reported for CoQ10.

Riboflavin or B2, is a water-soluble vitamin, that, like other B vitamins, is not stored well in the body so must be ingested daily. Riboflavin belongs to a category of yellow colored pigments called flavins (the reason urine changes color when taking B vitamin supplements). When riboflavin interacts with phosphoric acid it becomes a part of two essential enzymes. These enzymes are necessary for the conversion of carbohydrates to energy in the form of ATP within the mitochondria of the cell. Furthermore, deficiencies in riboflavin will exacerbate CoQ10 deficiencies. For these reasons, riboflavin supplementation has been considered in the treatment of mitochondrial damage. Many medications, such as antiretrovirals, antibiotics, oral contraceptives, and the tricyclic antidepressant noritriptiyline result in direct riboflavin deficiencies."

Ann....no problem & I think this is a good place for the topic. I was not sure when I posted.

buginme2 sorry I do not have the article nor recall where I found it.The reason I remembered & had my wife try it is for years I took CoQ10when I was a triathlete. Back then I had read many benefits so used it & at the timefelt it did in fact aid in my recovery after hard workouts. I also as I said continued to take it for the heart benefits it claims in many articles.

Sam66...Thanks for the read...Very interesting & as a side not my wife tales 100mg a day

I started taking Cellfood Oxygen for life, 25 drops 4 x a day and took it till about December. I thought it would take away the frequent Herpes outbreaks but it did not... It extended the outbreaks from 6-8 weeks intervals to 8-10 weeks.

My CD4 was 612 in Nov 2011. My D3 level was however very low... 8.28 as I have been staying out of the Sun. I started taking D3 supplements 20,000 IU and Co-Q10 200mg a day and today I got my CD4 results..... It is 935!!!

I thought it would take away the frequent Herpes outbreaks but it did not...

with frequent herpes outbreaks, you might want to check with your doctor about taking a daily dose of acyclovir as a preventative. Not only will it usually stop the outbreaks (my 4-6 outbreaks a yr are totally gone, except for one every couple yrs or so in times of intense stress), but acyclovir has mild antiretroviral properties. (oh it's not good enough to use in place of HAART but it's helpful to staying pleasantly UD)

I used to take a daily CoQ10 supplement for several years. I stopped. It is one of the more expensive supplements around. I don't think the evidence about the CD4 raising benefits is strong.

One thing I can say about it is that it would consistently make me puke if I took it on an empty stomach in the morning. I was taking it in capsule form and I still remember the taste of the powder coming back up ... Not a good thing ! There are several other supplements that have this effect on me, EGCG is another.

I would say you can safely skip it unless you have some other issues (heart) that may warrant taking it. It may be helpful to take it on days you exercise. HIV alone is probably not a sufficient reason.

My CD4 was 612 in Nov 2011. My D3 level was however very low... 8.28 as I have been staying out of the Sun. I started taking D3 supplements 20,000 IU and Co-Q10 200mg a day and today I got my CD4 results..... It is 935!!!

I doubt your CD4 count increase is related to the Coq10. More likely the D3. What's your new D3 level now ?

I take about 12,000 IU a day of D3 and that is quite a bit, but I determined that is what I need after many D3 levels tests. I get my D3 level checked with almost all my labs. I try to keep it in the 40 to 60 range. It was 12 originally.

I have not done a D3 test yet... I will do it next month and I will post the result.

Nevertheless, I think it does not hurt me to continue with Co-Q10 and D3 and I hope my CD4 count will continue to rise... It gives me some mental satisfaction too.

thanks

Agree it likely does not hurt except your wallet in the case of the CoQ10.

Re: the D3, you do need to monitor your levels. While it takes a LOT of D3 to get an overdose, 20,000 IU a day is still not negligible. The ideal D3 level to shoot for is between 30-70 ng/ml. You usually need to take a bit less in the summer vs winter.

First time posting but I have been visiting this forum since diagnosed in late jan of this yr. In feb my labs showed 379 cd4 count. I started complera then, and the next lab showed 419 which was disappointing even though I was undetectable. The next lab I was 410 which was even more disappointing, even though the dr tells me the important thing is being undetectable. After that I was reading this post and started 100 mg of CoQ10 as well as a multi vitamin and a probiotic. I take the three vits and med every day with lunch. Just went to the dr yesterday and cd4= 492. I know.. I know. I'm relatively new to treatment and it is the only thing that is saving my health but I am going to continue the vits for a lil while then I might stop and see what happens. Thanks for all the info shared on these forums. It has been a great help for me to educate myself and have some piece of mind. I am taking this relatively well and from what I have gathered we stand a great shot at living normal lifespans and seeing better treatment in the future. Sorry for rambling. Thanks again.

cd4 counts can change by 100 pts a day; with the highest counts in the late afternoon and lowest counts in the morning. even if you had your labs done at different times of the day, perhaps causing a difference in counts, this 113 range over 4 tests doesn't really attest to any great change yet. However, the upward graph and average of 425 so far bodes well for you.